Vessel wall differences between middle cerebral artery and basilar artery plaques on magnetic resonance imaging
Peng-Peng Niu1, Yao Yu1, Hong-Wei Zhou2
1Stroke Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Xinmin Street 71#, Changchun 130021, China.
Insights
Features of early atherosclerotic plaques in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and basilar artery (BA) did not differ in a Chinese population. Symptomatic plaques showed higher eccentricity and smaller plaque range than asymptomatic ones.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Posterior circulation plaques exhibit greater positive remodeling in non-Asian populations.
- Understanding intracranial atherosclerotic plaque characteristics is crucial for stroke risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare features of middle cerebral artery (MCA) and basilar artery (BA) plaques in a northern Chinese population.
- To investigate differences in plaque characteristics between MCA and BA in early atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 71 acute ischemic stroke patients.
- Vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify MCA and BA plaques (<50% stenosis).
- Comparison of remodeling ratio, eccentricity index, and plaque range using multilevel analysis.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in non-advanced atherosclerotic plaque features between MCA and BA.
- Symptomatic plaques demonstrated higher eccentricity index and smaller plaque range compared to asymptomatic plaques with similar plaque burden.
- 101 plaques analyzed (70 MCA, 31 BA).
Conclusions:
- Early atherosclerotic plaque features in MCA and BA are similar in a northern Chinese population.
- Plaque morphology (eccentricity, range) correlates with symptoms, independent of location, in early atherosclerosis.
- Further research needed on intracranial artery atherosclerosis progression.
Abstract:
A recent study showed that posterior circulation plaques have a greater capacity for positive remodeling in a non-Asian population. We aimed to investigate if the features of plaques in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were different from those in the basilar artery (BA) in a northern Chinese population. We retrospectively analysed the records of 71 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke. All patients had at least one MCA or BA plaque with early or mild (<50% stenosis) atherosclerosis identified using vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging. The remodeling ratio, eccentricity index, and plaque range were compared between MCA and BA plaques using multilevel analysis. A total of 101 plaques were included. There were 70 plaques located in the MCA and 31 plaques located in the BA. The features of non-advanced atherosclerotic plaques did not differ between the MCA and BA when accounting for the degree of stenosis or plaque burden in a northern Chinese population. Symptomatic plaques were associated with a higher eccentricity index and smaller plaque range than asymptomatic plaques under the same plaque burden. Further studies are warranted to investigate the progression of atherosclerosis in different intracranial arteries.
More Related Videos
07:43Utilizing a Cranial Window to Visualize the Middle Cerebral Artery During Endothelin-1 Induced Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion
Published on: February 22, 2013
08:12A Volumetric Method for Quantification of Cerebral Vasospasm in a Murine Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Published on: July 28, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:21Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI
01:24Magnetic Resonance Imaging